The Connect Fund

About the Connect Fund

Barking and Dagenham Council have been working collaboratively with our community partners to identify urgent priorities that are affecting our communities since the lockdown. We recognise that there have been many changing needs over the last two years as well as existing issues. We are keen to continue working across neighborhoods to support a sense of belonging and reconnection.

Through a series of research, workshops and listening groups we are committed to creating connected communities where residents can achieve independent, healthy, safe, and fulfilling lives.

We want to learn collectively, at a neighborhood level, what helps and what helps to tackle loneliness and isolation. This funding is designed by our community partners and resident voices, and we are keen to invite you to share your idea for new and innovative activity to tackle the challenge.

What we are looking for

Social Isolation is a complex challenge – and we cannot tackle this alone. We want to use this funding to test and support ideas to tackle it. Any projects applying for funding need to either:

  • Build upon and increase the capacity of an existing scheme, delivering new outcomes;
  • or, deliver a new and innovative idea to tackle Social Isolation in the borough

All projects must also be delivered within the specified four month window and will take part in a learning group, meeting once a month. In your proposal please take both of these into consideration.


What makes this fund different?

We know that social isolation diminishes when people connect, build trusted relationships, and find a place of belonging – and that might feel and look different with communities you work with. There is no one size fits all solution – but we want to learn from your ideas and approaches for new ways to tackle the challenge.

If your application is successful, in addition to the funding, you will be part of a learning group meeting monthly to share what is working well and partner with the Council to achieve more resilient communities.

Collaboration: The world is complex, and so is Barking and Dagenham. We understand that whole borough change cannot happen through sole interventions or actions of individuals. It takes a collective effort - “the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.”

Learning and adaption. We understand that activities focused on connection can produce unexpected outcomes and that trust takes time to build with people. This funding programme will adopt a flexible approach with learning and adaptation at its core. You will be part of shaping a learning group of funded organisations, who will convene monthly, supported by a facilitator to share learning, and collect impact as we go.

Impact: Delivering should not be a tick-box exercise. We will favor innovative interventions that have positive, lasting impact on supporting communities to connect, build relationships and create sense of belonging, rather than specific outputs.

Connect the dots: The organisations’ initiatives will be connected to Council services and areas – helping to link up across the system. We will market opportunities and activities through Connect Group and Neighbourhood Networks.


How to apply for the Connect Fund

To submit an application please complete the following questions below or click here: The Connect Fund | One Borough Voice (lbbd.gov.uk) .

Video or form:

We would like to encourage you to be creative, and we recognize that forms might not suit everyone. Instead of a form you can submit a video up to 12 minute for your application. Please make sure you speak to/ answer the questions and priority areas.

If you have any questions before making an application, please email community@lbbd.gov.uk

Timeline:

  • Invitation launched: 13th January 2022

  • Deadline: 11th February 2022

  • Decisions made and funds appointed: 18th February

  • Beginning of March– end of May: A 3-month learning programme will run alongside the projects development for the funded organisations, meeting four times over this period. Please make yourself available for up to 4 hours across the 3 months. The format, schedule, and commitment will be co-shaped with those funded organisations.

  • The majority of the appointed funds needs to be spent by the end of May 2022.

Who this is for:

Community groups, organization and partnerships in Barking and Dagenham aiming to work with socially isolated individuals through either:

  • Building upon and increasing the capacity of an existing scheme, delivering new outcomes;
  • or, delivering a new and innovative idea to tackle Social Isolation in the borough

Collaboration and partnership: If you do not think your organisation can apply on its own, we welcome using the Connect group and its networks to co-develop proposals with other organisations, and are happy to discuss your thoughts to try to match you with potential partners.


Size of grants available:

Up to £10,000 is available for a community group or partnership.

Following your application, you will then be invited to an interview.

There will be further funding rounds to apply to over 2022.


Eligibility Criteria

The Connect Fund is available to community and voluntary organisations, not-for-profit companies, registered charities, constituted organisations and social enterprises operating in Barking and Dagenham who want to run new and innovative activities tackling Social Isolation in the Borough.

To apply you must have:

- A written governing document properly approved and accepted by the management committee/board of trustees.

- At least three unrelated people on the board of directors, or Trustees, or governing body, and the majority of members must be unpaid.

- A bank account that requires at least two people who are not related to each other to sign each cheque or withdrawal.

If you do not meet the eligibility criteria you have the option to partner with an organisation to umbrella under.

If you are an Umbrella Organisations

If you are an umbrella organisation that is supporting a smaller group, you will be able to apply twice in one round, one on behalf of the organisation and also for your own organisation. Please outline this clearly when making an application. Also, please note that any umbrella organisation will therefore take responsibility in reporting back and complying due diligence for the expenditure.

________________________________________________________________

FAQ’s

Question 1: How long do we have to spend and implement the Connect Fund in?

Answer: 16 weeks. This is a short-term funding intervention, targeting an idea or project you have in tackling social isolation. There are longer-term funding options available, please see BD Giving for future and regular funding processes.

Question 2: If successful in the first round, can we apply to multiple rounds of the Connect Fund?

Answer: No. If you are successful in one round you are not eligible for a further round.

Question 3: Can I submit more than one proposal to the fund from the same organisation?

Answer: Yes, you can, but only one proposal per organisation can be funded.

Question 4: What support can I get if in receipt of the fund?

Answer: Successful organisations will be part of a learning group, which will meet four times over a three-to four-month period. This will be a facilitated group to support peer-learning and support the group in the journey. Please allow for a minimum of 6 hours of time in your budget to cover your participation.

Questions 5: Are CIC’s eligible to apply for this funding?

Answer: Yes, the fund is available to community and voluntary organisations, not-for-profit companies, registered charities, constituted organisations and social enterprises operating in Barking and Dagenham

Question 6: Can I still apply if I have received funding from elsewhere?

Answer: If you have received other funding from the council such as The Neighbourhood Fund you are still eligible to apply, but you will need to specify how your project for the Connect Fund is different to the projects you’ve previously received funding for. If you have received funding from external fundings such as the Lottery, you will still be eligible for Connect Funding but you will also need to demonstrate how this project is different to your existing programmes and projects.

About the Connect Fund

Barking and Dagenham Council have been working collaboratively with our community partners to identify urgent priorities that are affecting our communities since the lockdown. We recognise that there have been many changing needs over the last two years as well as existing issues. We are keen to continue working across neighborhoods to support a sense of belonging and reconnection.

Through a series of research, workshops and listening groups we are committed to creating connected communities where residents can achieve independent, healthy, safe, and fulfilling lives.

We want to learn collectively, at a neighborhood level, what helps and what helps to tackle loneliness and isolation. This funding is designed by our community partners and resident voices, and we are keen to invite you to share your idea for new and innovative activity to tackle the challenge.

What we are looking for

Social Isolation is a complex challenge – and we cannot tackle this alone. We want to use this funding to test and support ideas to tackle it. Any projects applying for funding need to either:

  • Build upon and increase the capacity of an existing scheme, delivering new outcomes;
  • or, deliver a new and innovative idea to tackle Social Isolation in the borough

All projects must also be delivered within the specified four month window and will take part in a learning group, meeting once a month. In your proposal please take both of these into consideration.


What makes this fund different?

We know that social isolation diminishes when people connect, build trusted relationships, and find a place of belonging – and that might feel and look different with communities you work with. There is no one size fits all solution – but we want to learn from your ideas and approaches for new ways to tackle the challenge.

If your application is successful, in addition to the funding, you will be part of a learning group meeting monthly to share what is working well and partner with the Council to achieve more resilient communities.

Collaboration: The world is complex, and so is Barking and Dagenham. We understand that whole borough change cannot happen through sole interventions or actions of individuals. It takes a collective effort - “the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.”

Learning and adaption. We understand that activities focused on connection can produce unexpected outcomes and that trust takes time to build with people. This funding programme will adopt a flexible approach with learning and adaptation at its core. You will be part of shaping a learning group of funded organisations, who will convene monthly, supported by a facilitator to share learning, and collect impact as we go.

Impact: Delivering should not be a tick-box exercise. We will favor innovative interventions that have positive, lasting impact on supporting communities to connect, build relationships and create sense of belonging, rather than specific outputs.

Connect the dots: The organisations’ initiatives will be connected to Council services and areas – helping to link up across the system. We will market opportunities and activities through Connect Group and Neighbourhood Networks.


How to apply for the Connect Fund

To submit an application please complete the following questions below or click here: The Connect Fund | One Borough Voice (lbbd.gov.uk) .

Video or form:

We would like to encourage you to be creative, and we recognize that forms might not suit everyone. Instead of a form you can submit a video up to 12 minute for your application. Please make sure you speak to/ answer the questions and priority areas.

If you have any questions before making an application, please email community@lbbd.gov.uk

Timeline:

  • Invitation launched: 13th January 2022

  • Deadline: 11th February 2022

  • Decisions made and funds appointed: 18th February

  • Beginning of March– end of May: A 3-month learning programme will run alongside the projects development for the funded organisations, meeting four times over this period. Please make yourself available for up to 4 hours across the 3 months. The format, schedule, and commitment will be co-shaped with those funded organisations.

  • The majority of the appointed funds needs to be spent by the end of May 2022.

Who this is for:

Community groups, organization and partnerships in Barking and Dagenham aiming to work with socially isolated individuals through either:

  • Building upon and increasing the capacity of an existing scheme, delivering new outcomes;
  • or, delivering a new and innovative idea to tackle Social Isolation in the borough

Collaboration and partnership: If you do not think your organisation can apply on its own, we welcome using the Connect group and its networks to co-develop proposals with other organisations, and are happy to discuss your thoughts to try to match you with potential partners.


Size of grants available:

Up to £10,000 is available for a community group or partnership.

Following your application, you will then be invited to an interview.

There will be further funding rounds to apply to over 2022.


Eligibility Criteria

The Connect Fund is available to community and voluntary organisations, not-for-profit companies, registered charities, constituted organisations and social enterprises operating in Barking and Dagenham who want to run new and innovative activities tackling Social Isolation in the Borough.

To apply you must have:

- A written governing document properly approved and accepted by the management committee/board of trustees.

- At least three unrelated people on the board of directors, or Trustees, or governing body, and the majority of members must be unpaid.

- A bank account that requires at least two people who are not related to each other to sign each cheque or withdrawal.

If you do not meet the eligibility criteria you have the option to partner with an organisation to umbrella under.

If you are an Umbrella Organisations

If you are an umbrella organisation that is supporting a smaller group, you will be able to apply twice in one round, one on behalf of the organisation and also for your own organisation. Please outline this clearly when making an application. Also, please note that any umbrella organisation will therefore take responsibility in reporting back and complying due diligence for the expenditure.

________________________________________________________________

FAQ’s

Question 1: How long do we have to spend and implement the Connect Fund in?

Answer: 16 weeks. This is a short-term funding intervention, targeting an idea or project you have in tackling social isolation. There are longer-term funding options available, please see BD Giving for future and regular funding processes.

Question 2: If successful in the first round, can we apply to multiple rounds of the Connect Fund?

Answer: No. If you are successful in one round you are not eligible for a further round.

Question 3: Can I submit more than one proposal to the fund from the same organisation?

Answer: Yes, you can, but only one proposal per organisation can be funded.

Question 4: What support can I get if in receipt of the fund?

Answer: Successful organisations will be part of a learning group, which will meet four times over a three-to four-month period. This will be a facilitated group to support peer-learning and support the group in the journey. Please allow for a minimum of 6 hours of time in your budget to cover your participation.

Questions 5: Are CIC’s eligible to apply for this funding?

Answer: Yes, the fund is available to community and voluntary organisations, not-for-profit companies, registered charities, constituted organisations and social enterprises operating in Barking and Dagenham

Question 6: Can I still apply if I have received funding from elsewhere?

Answer: If you have received other funding from the council such as The Neighbourhood Fund you are still eligible to apply, but you will need to specify how your project for the Connect Fund is different to the projects you’ve previously received funding for. If you have received funding from external fundings such as the Lottery, you will still be eligible for Connect Funding but you will also need to demonstrate how this project is different to your existing programmes and projects.

Page last updated: 14 Feb 2022, 09:31 AM